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David Archuleta Wikipedia

David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. At ten years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances.[6] When he was twelve years old, Archuleta became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2.[6] In 2007, at sixteen years old, he became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of American Idol.[7] In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes.

My Kind Of Christmas Concert ~ Click On Picture To Watch Concert!

Charities David Supports

Archive for the ‘Dance’ Category

As soon as he walked out onstage at Daryl’s House in Pawling last Saturday night, I knew he wasn’t the same David Archuleta that I left at Westbury seven years earlier. After not seeing him for a long stretch of time, the change in his stage presence was remarkable; I could not take my eyes off of him. The Livestream doesn’t do him justice.

Experience shows; he’s now like a well-oiled machine. His confidence level has risen and there’s now a subtle sophistication about him. Unlike other singers, David doesn’t just sing; he performs each song, with it’s own set of dance moves, particular to that song. And yet at the same time; he’s humble. An interesting combination of traits in one person; confidence, experience, sophistication and humility; a humility that only comes from within. Male or female, the audience loves him and gave him a standing ovation several times during the evening.

The small, sold-out venue gave way to an intimate performance, allowing David to lock eyes with audience members, as he delivered the messages of each song. At one point, he sang the last verse of “Crush”to a young girl in the front row, corner. When he walked away I glanced at her. She was overwhelmed, almost in tears. There was a bunch of older fans in the audience, too. We caught every change up in melody or lyric and every dance move and we responded with applause.

David’s talent is so diverse that he’s able to have a setlist comprised of different genres including ballads, rock, jazz, spiritual, Latin, pop and even songs from movie soundtracks. The medley of tunes he sang from “The Great Showman” movie was awesome!

video credit David Archuleta UK/Daryl’s House Club

My other new favorites are “Nunca Pense” – his Latin dance moves are killer and I love how his band provided boy-band type dancing backup…

video credit David Archuleta UK/Daryl’s House Club

I also loved the new finger-snapping in one of my early favorites “Invincible”.

video credit David Archuleta UK/Daryl’s House Club

“Thunder” was a powerful performance, too! And seeing him sing “Spotlight Down” before my eyes was a treasure. So many favorites!

It was a perk getting to see Marlie from The David Chronicles and SnowAngelz, Deb and Refnaf again! DJbell is such a hoot online and in person. For the fans, it was like no time had passed. ❤

I have no idea if David is interested in having a role on Broadway but from my perspective, he looks ready. I can visualize him onstage in the play, “Dear Evan Hansen”. Anyone else?

Some things never change, especially the euphoric feeling you get when one of David’s shows is over. As I left the venue, that familiar feeling washed over me, reminding me that David Archuleta is truly one of the blessings in my life.

It was a perfect Thursday night at The Marriott Center for the BYU Spectacular. The weather was just right. The sun was setting with a beautiful view from the large wrap-around windows. I arrived early. Really early.

David started with “Crush”, establishing who he was in case anyone had forgotten. Then it was “Imagine”. His voice was so pure and sweet. The entire audience was motionless. I found I was holding my breath. No one wanted to intrude in any way on the magic of that song. Afterward David said that song was special to him because when he sang it on American Idol, it taught him you could connect with the audience without bouncing around and waving your arms.

The Women’s Chorus sang two songs, then David was to join them in the third. From my seat I could see David standing in the shadows, separating himself from the applause for the chorus. When he took the stage, the applause increased and he turned and acknowledged the chorus, as if they were the star. “Nunca Pense” was the song he sang with them and he showed off his foot work. My head was constantly bobbing. If I looked down I could see the whole David, footwork and all, but if I looked up to the jumbo screen I could see his immense face full of emotion.

Then came some singing and dancing with no David. I did see the dancers. When David left the stage it was easy to find them.

When he sang “Parachutes and Airplanes” the audience lit a thousand cell phones for David, some stood, some danced. It was sort of like “Zero Gravity” used to be without the frenzy.

credit ShelleyFOD

“Everybody Hurts” began with David at the back behind the dancers. Then he wandered among them and finished at the front. Remember the picture of David where he held all the ribbons attached to our hearts?

Credit Angelica

It was like he grabbed those ribbons and ripped our hearts right out of us. From the beginning to end he wrang our hearts and thoughts and emotions. He walked off the stage and left us stunned and gasping. One of his best performances ever.

My Dad and his older sister Madeline shared the same birthday, October 25th. I always thought that was really special. She would always say he was “the best birthday present ever!” Madeline was the protector of her youngest sibling, but as they aged, it was my father who became protective of his oldest sister.

Several years after her husband’s passing and the loss of her two beloved companion dogs, my father worried about his sister living alone. Convincing her to move, she sold her home and her belongings in Massachusetts and moved to a lovely retirement community in Florida, very close to where we lived. She had a furnished apartment with all the comforts of home.

Madeline quickly made friends in her new surroundings and before long, she and several of her new friends signed up for ballroom dancing lessons. They eventually began traveling all over the state for competitions.

My Dad became concerned and skeptical about the outflow of money and the time his sister was spending with dance, and felt that she might be part of a giant scam to separate widows and lonely ladies from their life savings. He felt she was being foolish, a woman her age being “paraded” around the dance floor often with a much younger dance instructor/partner. But Madeline was having a wonderful time anyway and continued dancing, knowing that her brother wasn’t going to come around to her way of thinking.

I loved hearing about Auntie Madeline’s little adventures and road trips as much as she loved talking about them. Her eyes lit up when she spoke of her new-found passion. But my Dad remained concerned, and others in the family continued to relentlessly tease her.

Less than a decade after she had come to enjoy her life in Florida, Madeline’s life came to an end. I recall going with my mother to the apartment where she lived to pack up her personal belongings. In her closet hung her many beautiful dresses, including several incredible ballroom gowns, many pairs of lovely shoes, and boxes of sparkling jewelry.

In a corner of her living room, a special glass étagère held her dance trophies, pictures of family, photos of Madeline and her friends at the dance studio and dance competitions, and group pictures of them sharing a meal at restaurants in different cities.They looked like they were having the time of their lives. In every single picture, Auntie Madeline was laughing or smiling. I commented to my mother how beautiful and happy she looked in those pictures with her friends.

I left the next morning on an early flight to return home. On saying goodbye, my mother handed me a small black ring box. As I opened it, she said “Auntie Madeline wanted you to have this.” Inside the box was a lovely ring. Once back home, I put the ring into my jewelry box, and there it remained a memory, untouched for many years.

Enter David Archuleta, and the eventual, inevitable, state of ODD.

Friends didn’t understand me; my family didn’t either. “Why are you ALWAYS talking about that David Archuleta kid? What is wrong with you? Aren’t you a little bit too old to be listening to a teenage pop singer? You drove to another state alone? You flew halfway across the country for a concert, that’s just crazy! You shared a hotel room with someone you had never met? “

Their comments were hurtful. I started to wonder what was happening to me. I had found something I was so excited about, and yet no one close to me could relate. I came to have enough of the endless teasing and hurtful comments I encountered when I tried to share what I had come to know about David, the person, David, the singer and performer, and his beautiful voice that had stolen my heart. I kept wishing they would see what I saw, could hear what I heard, the absolute level of joy I received listening to the Voice and seeing the smile of this most incredibly talented and special young man. Those closest to me didn’t understand that David Archuleta was becoming a permanent resident of my heart.

I decided to just not bring up the subject of David anymore, to family, or the people I worked with, or friends, but the teasing continued, unabated. I actually eventually became somewhat disengaged with the people who seemed to belittle me, more than tease, and remain more engaged with those who were just happy for me, that I always seemed to wear an inner smile on my face.

One random, rainy, Saturday, I decided to weed out my jewelry box and organize its contents. I opened the long neglected box that contained the lovely ring that Auntie Madeline had given me. I removed it, and slipped it onto my finger. To my surprise, it fit perfectly, years after I had put it away. I smiled and felt my aunt’s presence as I looked at the ring, admiringly. Then the tears came as memories flooded back. I understood now. Madeline too had ODD but not for a person. She, too, had endured the looks, the endless teasing about something that gave her much joy.

But she didn’t let it stop her. She didn’t sit on the sidelines. She danced until she no longer was able. She plunged in, full steam ahead, and did what gave her so much joy, despite being ridiculed by some because of her “age.” She followed her heart, and her passion, abandoning worry about those who thought she was wasting her time and her money. She didn’t let others opinions of her matter. She wasn’t hurting anyone. Her age didn’t stop her. She was young at heart. She would have loved David Archuleta, and he would have loved her “go for it” attitude. I believe David sees our hearts, not our wrinkles, and that he loves his fans of all ages.

Since that rainy day, I wear the ring often on my finger, as my Auntie’s reminder to me, to embrace the people, and the moments, that bring you happiness. Be the age inside your heart. From Madeline to me, and me to you, “I HOPE YOU DANCE.”

I have a confession. I have strayed, cheated on the man who has held me in thrall for the past five years. I do it every evening, furtively, making eyes at this guy in vest and shirt, singing and dancing and making my heart go kaboom.

Dear Reader, are you confused by my rambling? Are you going “huh”?

You might have guessed that, this being The Voice, I must be talking about David Archuleta. Big sigh! Yes, him! So, he is the enthralling one. Then who’s the other guy?

I give you Exhibit A.

♦

I just can’t stop watching. I didn’t quite understand why. Not at first anyway. I had never been a fan. His voice does not compare; no, no, not by a long mile. The dancing? Yes, that might be it. But Mr Archuleta can boogie too. We’ve all seen glimpses of that.

Then one night, after several repeats deep into the early hours – bingo!

Mr T doesn’t wear a tie. His vest is less snug, the trousers a looser fit. But let your imagination run just a bit. Then squint a little.

Can you see it now? Shirt with rolled up sleeves, perfectly knotted tie, body-hugging vest, almost sprayed-on pants. And boots! There they are, with pants tucked in.

Like this.

♦

You understand now, don’t you? I might be watching JT sing and dance but all I see is David Archuleta. The only voice I want to hear. The only guy I want to see – making a big splash everywhere. In 2014.

Until then, I am going to cheat a little by watching JT and transforming him into that one and only guy for me. The brain is a powerful thing, don’t you think?

When the words “dancing” and “Chile” are in the same sentence, visions of David dancing Salsa onstage at the JAS Arena in Rancagua come to mind, thanks to Gladys’ brilliant recap. But I learned that while Salsa and Tango may be popular dances in Latin America, they are not the only options.

Like all cultures, Chileans engage in popular and traditional folk dancing to celebrate cultural rituals. Chile prides itself on a traditional dance called “la Cueca” which became the national dance in 1979. Done at weddings, parties, and family gatherings, la cueca is taught to kids in elementary schools in Chile. Dance is an important part of Chilean culture.

The Cueca dancers dress in traditional colorful costumes with men in cowboy hats, horse riding pants, short jackets and riding boots with spurs. Women wear flowered dresses with aprons. They wave handkerchiefs in the air, mimicking playful romantic courting between a hen and a rooster. The character of the male performer is the aggressor and the female performer is elusive and demure.

The choreography of the Cueca is what makes it so appealing. Clap, clap, step, step, swing that handkerchief over your head… don’t fall, step again, now circle your partner… forward, back and pretend you’re a hen…There is an imaginary circle with the male performer in one half and the female in the other. In sync with the background music, the dance always starts with the man extending his arm as an offer to the woman to dance with him. The dance partners stand face to face at a distance from each other. Before the couple starts to dance, they begin clapping their hands to the music. Subtly flirtatious, couples move around each other in circles but all of the flirting is done with eye contact and body movement. There is barely any touching in this dance.

La Cueca is performed at every important festival in Chile, especially on September 18, Chilean Independence Day. Elder Archuleta could not have missed native Chileans performing this dance on that day.

There are other dances that are specific to different parts of Chile. In the north they celebrate the Fiesta de La Tirana in which the dancers wear demonic masks. In central Chile la Cueca rules and different variations of it are done. In Santiago the the peasant style, ballroom style and the Cueca Brava dominate. In the south there are religious Mapuche dances such as the Nguillatún and the Machitún in which prayers are offered to the supreme god Ngenechen and to the sacred canelo tree. A little farther south, among fishermen and farmers, the steps are livelier, to shake away the cold. In the Costillar dance, two men compete, dancing around a bottle placed in the middle of the dance floor, and the one who kicks the bottle over is the loser.

In October 2011, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Chile celebrated it’s fifty year anniversary of formal missionary work. Members gathered at a week-long celebration to commemorate the event. They celebrated in part by doing traditional dances of the country. The dances start at 1:15 in this video and at 2:50 there’s even a dance that resembles the Mexican Hat Dance.

Video courtesy of Mormon Channel/YouTube

The Chileans are passionate, colorful and religious people. They show this in their music and dance which are both integral parts of their culture. And here comes that vision of David dancing Salsa again. Ay Carumba!